My son was a blessed wolf, and some other man claimed him as his own.
I shook with rage and let out a loud growl that almost shook the office. It did nothing to quell the rage.
This is all your fault – Toby pushed back.
I didn’t want to admit what I realized.
This was all my own doing.
(Willa)
At dinner that night we were still seated at the head table but placed at the end, not in the place of honor. If it was meant to be a slight, it wasn’t one we minded. I didn’t want to have to make small talk with these people. We got what we came for; now, we just had to show face out of politeness for the other Alphas and Lunas.
After the last plate was cleared, Caspien went to get us a drink.
Nolan’s Gamma, Jack, came up to our end of the table.
“Can we talk?” He asked, looking nervous. I nodded, and we took a few steps away from the head table. Nolan’s gaze followed us.
He pulled me into an apprehensive hug, “I missed you, Willa. We all did.” He whispered.
I hugged him back tighter. I missed him.
After a long moment, I let him go, “Well, not all.” I said, and he laughed once.
I studied him; he seemed to have come into his own these past few years. Gone was the slightly lanky boy and a filled-out man stood in front of me. He ran a hand through his brown waves and gave me a timid smile.
“Me and Issac did, at least.” He mentioned Nolan’s Beta, “I wanted to talk to you last night, but everything was just so-“
“Hectic,” I said, and he flashed me a smile nodding.
“One h.ell of an entrance,” He shook his head, smiling, “It was fucking incredible. You showed back up with The Prince in that dress.” He grabbed my arms and squeezed them, awe and pride on his face.
Caspien came up behind me, and Jack released me from his embrace, looking nervous again.
“Sorry,” Jack said.
“You’re allowed to touch my mate,” Caspien said, “If she will allow it, that is,” He added darkly and looked at me; I nodded once, telling him it was.
“Jack, meet my mate, Caspien,” I turned to Caspien, “This is Nolan’s Gamma Jack and my friend.” I smiled.
It felt good to know that at least he didn’t share in the misplaced anger Nolan and Camilla seemed to have for me.
“Nice to meet you,” Caspien said, shaking his hand, “I’m going to sit back down. Find me when you’re finished.” Caspien nodded to us both.
I was immensely grateful to be able to finish this conversation with Jack alone. I saw how people cowered in my mate’s presence, and I wanted to have an open conversation.
“Willa,” His voice lowered, and he looked sad, almost pained, “We didn’t know about your child with Nolan, we didn’t know you were pregnant. But even despite that, when he decided to choose Camilla because of the baby, we weren’t okay with it.” “But you’re here,” I looked at him.
“I am,” He rubbed the back of his neck, “I couldn’t; we couldn’t leave. The title, the legacy,” He shrugged, “But I just want you to know it didn’t sit right with us, and even more so now.” He couldn’t meet my eyes.
“Thank you,” I breathed, “I don’t blame you, honestly, I don’t,” I shook my head, taking his hands in my mind f.orcing him to look at me, “I get it, you both were Nolan’s friends since birth. I know where loyalties lie.”
“But Willa-“
I shook my head once, “I get it. I understand.” I really did. Even at the time, I knew that logically people wouldn’t side against their Alpha, not because of a rejection at least.
“However,” I went on, “Just because I understood, it didn’t lessen the pain. I lost everything that I knew in that one moment, and I wanted him to feel a fraction of what he put me through,” I laughed once; it came out dry and as hollow as I felt saying that. I just wanted Nolan to feel a shadow of the sharp sting of betrayal. Or I used to; I realized now that I genuinely didn’t care.
“I know, well, I can’t imagine. I wanted to reach out, but no one knew where you were. Lola refused to tell us.”
I smiled at that. I told her not to give away my location, and she stayed true to what I wanted. She was the only person that knew where we were. I knew if I told anyone else or let her tell anyone, I would have waited and wished for someone, anyone, to reach out. Instead of subjecting myself to that hope and pain, I completely cut off any contact, for self-preservation.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry, and I wish things were different,” He met my eyes, and I saw the sincerity in them.
“Thank you, but I don’t.” I was being honest, “I’m happy, so indescribably happy,” A smile crept onto my face.
“Good,” He smiled back, “I’m happy that you’re happy. That’s all I wanted,” He said, lowering his voice.
Goddess, I didn’t realize how much I missed him.
It felt good to know he was actually a friend despite it all. It helped sew up a bit of me that still held onto that confused anger that was so ingrained in my life before.
“Friends? Still friends?” He asked.
“Yes,” I nodded once. I would make an effort to keep in touch with him, “I’ll give you my address now,” He laughed once.
“No need, I’ll just look for a castle,” He smiled.
“Find me later?” I asked him. He nodded once, looking as relieved as I felt.
I fell into the chair next to Caspien. I couldn’t help smiling. We got the votes, and talking to Jack was just the cherry on top of it all.
“Good conversation?” Caspien grabbed my hand and placed it on his lap.
“Yes,” I beamed at him, “I just, I don’t know. I didn’t know what they thought after it all happened..” I trailed off, “It was nice to talk to him. I didn’t realize how much I missed him.” I shrugged.
“Good,” He leaned forward to place a kiss on my forehead, sending more warmth through me, “It’s over now, Willa.” He smiled at me, a genuine one I hadn’t seen all afternoon.
The drinks flowed, and we fell into conversation, letting the others start mingling before we would join them.
Hugo, Nolan’s dad, scooted closer to us, and I shut my eyes, breathing out of my nose.
Please don’t be a d.ick, please don’t be a dick.
“My grandson is the blessed wolf.” He said, it wasn’t quite a question, “Also, I have another grandson,” He said, frowning into his drink.
“Alpha Hugo,” I didn’t mean to use his title, but it was second nature. He was Alpha for the entirety of my time at this pack, “I didn’t intend to keep it from you. Honestly,” My voice caught as I was transported back to that time, that person that I was.
“I thought my son would grow up here with another set of loving grandparents.” I closed my eyes, Emmett got that anyways with Caspien’s parents, but back then, I would have never thought that would be possible.
“It was never my intention to hurt you or Natalie. Telling you would have caused more strain. Nolan knew, it was his decision whether to share the information.”
Hugo looked at me, his eyes widened slightly, but he nodded.
“You’re right. You’re right,” He nodded again, “I’m not mad at you. I understand. Just the situation. It’s s.hit.”
I laughed once, “Yes, it wasn’t the most fun time for me either, and I know this situation is muddy, to put it gently,” I tried to give him a smile, “I’m happy that I have him, I wouldn’t change a day of my life because it resulted in my son. I just,” I took a steadying breath, “I don’t think it had to be that difficult.” I swallowed.
Why were these memories still painful?
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.